Eight Bells: John B.B. Whitton

Capt. John B.B. Whitton, 82, passed April 9, 2024. He graduated from Western Michigan University 1963 and UCLA Graduate School of International Business 1966. He was a well known sailor, had the Peterson Quarter Ton Flying Circus first in Grand Haven, MI in the 1970s; then Los Angeles area until 2013.

B.B. was a Master Mariner (51 races) in the Island Goat Sailing Society of Chicago, a Grand Ram (50 races) in the Society of Mackinac Island Old Goats, a member of the Double Goat Society, a Master Captain in Merchant Marine with US Coast Guard license, with endorsements for sailing vessels and towing, grade: 100 ton all US Coasts, Great Lakes, Rivers, and all navigable waters. He was a member of US Sailing, American Legion Yacht Club, and Transpacific Yacht Club.

B.B. was the beloved husband of Kathryn, father of Corbett and Bransby, and grandfather of Bradley, Clayton, Lindsey, Samantha and Zachary. A Memorial Service honoring John’s life will be on April 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, St. George, Utah. Celebrations of B.B.’s life are being planned for California and Michigan in the weeks ahead. The Church will either stream and/or post a recording of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Newport Sea Base as a tribute: https://www.newportseabase.org/support